Orrville Goodwill store opens with line of bargain shoppers awaiting

ORRVILLE -- Any doubts anyone might have harbored about how popular the new Goodwill store at the city's north end would be were vanquished when it opened its doors to a shoulder-to-shoulder throng.

A crowd of city officials, community leaders, bargain hunters and those just interested in touring the new building at 1201 N. Main St. quickly filled the 60-space parking lot to capacity on Tuesday, and attendees had to seek out spots at nearby businesses before streaming into the gleaming 12,000-square-foot building.

The new location, according to Judy Delaney, president of Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties, was built for high visibility along state Route 57, as well as to create a more traditional retail atmosphere commensurate with those of other department stores.

Delaney said the overall square footage is allotted to two major sections of the building -- the 8,000-square-foot retail floor and the 4,000-square-foot merchandise intake area. One of the most outstanding features of the intake area is the large portico, which shields those driving underneath it from inclement weather.

She noted the previous store in the north end shopping plaza had lacked any kind of protection from the weather.

And while the store may be substantially smaller than the 20,000-square-foot building Goodwill had previously in Orrville, Delany notes there are other advantages, including lower ceilings to make it more energy efficient, much more natural lighting and a place where the 12 store employees can eat outside.

Carolyn Stefanik, director of marketing and public relations, said the store's location at one of Orrville's busiest intersections will increase visibility and simultaneously spur donations on a consistent year-round basis.

She said in the past, donations dropped off dramatically at the Orrville location during the winter, forcing the store to draw merchandise from other Goodwill locations in order to keep its shelves filled. Stefanik thinks with the portico at the donation entrance that will no longer be a problem.

Stefanik also noted the new facility has a loading dock is equipped with a compactor. The compactor can be used to crush pieces of furniture that are too damaged to sell, or other materials, and will reduce the store's trash hauling bills.

She noted the store will seek donations of metal that can be recycled, along with tires, computers and other items.

Delaney said the Orrville Goodwill location traditionally has done best with women and children's clothing, unlike the Holmes County location that sells more household and wares merchandise. The Orrville store has four dressing rooms and is handicapped accessible.

Money from the sales of merchandise, Stefanik said, is used to fund a variety of services, including job coaching for lower income people.

Stefanik said Goodwill is "looking forward to getting more involved with the (Orrville) community and partnering with some other nonprofit agencies."

Smiling as she watched the huge crowd looking through the racks of merchandise was manager Laurie Stiles of Orrville, who has worked with the store for eight years.

Stiles said she likes the store layout because "it's designed to really catch the customer's eye," with its grid walls, shelving and excellent lighting. She also likes how it is divided into various departments -- domestics, children, electrical/mechanical, juniors, wares, a new young men's section and a book shop, the latter most Goodwill stores do not offer.

Stiles said the building is the result of community officials and residents pulling together to get the job done. She also said the new facility is "the right-size store for the Orrville location. The other one was probably too big."

Pushing an overflowing shopping cart down an aisleway was Audrie Saurer of Orrville, who characterized the new store as "awesome" and "fantastic."

Saurer, who noted she was one of the first people in the door, said, "The prices are wonderful."

Saying she had recently lost weight and needed a new wardrobe, Saurer said she was buying a dress for Easter, along with a showy beach hat and sunglasses, some candles, Easter decorations and much more.

"The stuff is nice and the condition is really good. There are real bargains here," Saurer said. "Lower income people can't afford to even go to Walmart and Kmart these days. I think here you spend about a fourth as much as you would there for similar quality merchandise."

Also acquiring a load in her cart was Tanya Love of Orrville. A frequent Goodwill shopper, Love said the new facility is "a better building," and she said she especially likes "the natural light and the lower ceilings." She said she was buying children's clothing, Easter decorations and magazines, which were priced at 29 cents each.

"Each time we build a one of these buildings, we learn more about how to do it right," said Delaney. "I think we're starting to get a handle on what works best."

Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at 330-682-2055 or plocher@the-daily-record.com.